Wilson worked as a research assistant in health economics at York University in the United Kingdom, and fused his career with a lifelong interest in birds and conservation when he worked at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). He was heavily involved in the Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas project during six years of fieldwork and was lead editor on the Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania.

“I will maintain a research program focused on large-scale bird conservation issues, but as the environmental studies department’s ‘wildlife ecologist’ I’m looking forward to broadening my horizons to animals without feathers! I’m excited to have the opportunity to build a research program that complements my classes and provides plenty of opportunities for undergraduate research,” said Wilson.